Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-07-09
QUEER BURIAL RITES.
How Ponca Indians Disposed Of tho
Body of a Chief-Sport aud Sorrow.

Body of a C~hief-Sport and Sorrow.
Wa-si-ka, head chief OF the Ponca In
dians, q tribe living in the territory just
south Of here, died recently and was
buried with all the pomp and ceremony
known TO the tribe. His body was taken
on a blanket from his tepee by his sQuaw
and three children and placed in a wagon
drawn by two horses, which the widow
guided. This was the Indian hearse.
Behind this followed nearly 500 bucks
and squaws-the former on horseback AMI
the latter t~rotting along on foot. All the
way to the buryinG ground the widows
and orphans moaned increasingly.
When the burial ground was reached
the squaws formed a circle about 100
yards in circumference around the wagon,
and outside OF this circle twelve squaws
were stationed mt intervals Of a few feet,
10 Keep away cv!! spirits by giving vent
to unearthly screcches. Beyond these
there were about l75 bucks on horseback,
laughing, chatting and trading horses.
After the circle had been formed White
Buffalo, head chief OF the Poncas, came
forward and in the Ponca tongue delivered
ar GRAFTON on the deceased. At its con-
clusion the mourners, who in the mean
time had kept their seats in the wagon,
picked up the four corners Of the blanket
on which reposed the corpse, and giving IL
q toss threw the body to the ground. Then
the widow went to the rear of the wagon
and gathered up some ~''Culls," or refuse
lumber, which she deposited by the side Of
her dead spouse.
During this time an Omaha Indian who
had entered the squnw circle kept filing a
saw which he had in his hands, and the
mourners continued their mourning. AS
the Omaha brave had finished fling his
saw, he began making a receptacle for the
remains out OF the culls. This receptacle
was in the form Of a chicken COOP, being
eight feet long and five feet wide and
about five high, securely fastened to the
ground by posts. Into this the body,
covered with the blanket and other earthly
possessions OF the deceased, was laid.
a foot race was then announced by the
bucks on the outside OF the circle. Four
almost naked Indians were the partici-
pants. Then followed a two mile horse
race, in which there were eighteen p~artici-
pants, all Of whom had painted their faces
In u hideous manner. Riding of the re-
quired distance, the chief then signaled
for the start with a looking glass. At full
speed came the eighteen reckless red riders.
AS they neared the circle the entire body
OF 400 Indians set up a terrific howl, and
as the horses came in past them the e
element was intense. During the races
the body was entirely disrobed. There
were four prizes in each event--a jacket,
q pipe and tobacco bag and two blankets.
The winner Of the first prize was given
his choice OF prizes, the second second
choice, the third third choice and the
fourth fourth.
After the horse race the attention OF the
assemblage was once more given to the dead
chief. The Chicken coop tomb having
been constructed, the body of Wa-si-ka
was thrown inside and the ends were
closed up 80 as to prevent any animal
from entering and carrying off the body.
A horse and two calves, the property Of
the deceased, were also laid in the tomb
In order that he might enjoy them in the
happy hunting ground. This ended the
ceremony.-Arkansas City Kan.) Cor.
Kansas City Times.